In 2024, women in South Africa are still paid less, hired less, and promoted less than men, according to recent figures from Statistics South Africa.
Labour market still favours men over women
Despite progress in some areas, women are still more likely to be unemployed or stuck in low-paying jobs.
This is especially clear in the gap between how many men and women actually have jobs, known as the labour absorption rate.
The labour absorption rate is the percentage of working-age people who are employed. In 2024, this rate for women was just 35.8%, which means that only about one in three working-age women had jobs.
For men, the rate was higher at 44.9%. This shows that even though more women are entering the labour market, they are not being hired at the same rate as men.
More women are looking for work – but can’t find jobs
The number of women participating in the labour force—meaning those who are either working or looking for work—has improved.
Between 2014 and 2024, the labour force participation rate for women rose from 50.9% to 55.8%. But this hasn’t led to more women getting jobs. In fact, the opposite is happening.
Unemployment among women has grown, even among those with higher education. For example, women with matric certificates had a 39.5% unemployment rate in 2024, up from 28.8% in 2014.
Women with other tertiary qualifications (like diplomas or certificates) had a jobless rate of 26.9%, a steep rise from 15.1% ten years earlier.
Even women who have university degrees are more likely to be unemployed than men with similar qualifications. In 2024, 10.7% of female graduates were unemployed, compared to 8.3% of male graduates.
Why are women still behind?
There are many reasons for this. Women are often expected to take care of homes and children, which limits the time and energy they can spend on work.
Many employers still believe that men are better suited for leadership roles. And even when women do get jobs, they are often paid less than men doing the same work.
Between 2014 and 2024, the difference between how many men and women were actively working has stayed wide.
Although women have made gains in education and job-seeking, they are not being hired or promoted as quickly as men.
Women’s Month is a time to honour the achievements of women in South Africa, but it also serves as a glaring indication that equality is still far off—especially in the workplace.
The famous phrase “Wathint’ Abafazi, Wathint’ Imbokodo” reminds us of women’s strength. But the numbers from Stats SA show that strong policies and actions are still needed to close the gender gap in jobs, pay, and opportunity.
Until the labour market treats women fairly, true equality in South Africa will remain unfinished business.